Electrolytic Combustible Gas-Producing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

It consists of a compact apparatus, easy to install, which allows the optimal dissipation of the heat produced during the electrochemical reaction, composed of a first tank ( 1 ) wherethrough water ( 9 ) enters and a second tank ( 2 ) wherethrough the hydrogen gas ( 7 ) and oxygen gas ( 8 ) resulting from the electrolysis exit mixed with the water ( 9 ), and which includes pipes ( 3 ) independent of each other, without superficial continuity therebetween, connecting both tanks ( 1, 2 ), the outer surface of which is in direct contact with the air or through the intermediation of dissipating flaps ( 10 ) to facilitate the dissipation of the heat generated during the electrolysis.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of apparatus aimed atproducing combustible gases by means of the electrolysis process.

The object of the invention consist of the development of a compactapparatus, easy to install, which by means of a design solution allowsoptimal dissipation of the heat produced during an electrochemicalreaction, eliminating the need to increase the size of the unit andallowing an increase in intensities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrolysis apparatus are known to be used in several and variedapplications, specifically those used, for example, in the electrolysisof water as a clean technology for the production of hydrogen gas thatis subsequently used as fuel.

In the electrolysis process, water is dissociated in the cathode withthe formation of hydrogen molecules and oxygen ions which aretransported through the electrolyte, forming oxygen molecules on thesurface of the anode with electron detachment. In order for theseelectrons to be transported from the anode to the cathode, to producethe electrolytic reaction, electrical energy must be applied.

The electrochemical reaction produced inside the unit gives off heat,reaching excessive temperatures in some units.

Most known systems are closed and the gas-producing units are submergedin water in closed tanks, due to which the high temperatures reachedrepresent a problem that requires reducing the intensities or buildinglarger and more expensive systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatus that constitutesthe object of this invention satisfactorily solves the previouslyexpounded problems.

This gas-producing apparatus is configured by separate tanks, whichconsist of a first tank wherethrough water enters and a second tankwherethrough hydrogen gas and oxygen gas resulting from the electrolysisexit, mixed with the circulating water, and by at least one outer pipethat connects both tanks, slightly penetrating both by its extremitiesand which is connected to a first electrical terminal and by an innercore connected to a second electrical terminal of opposing polarity tothat of the first terminal.

The apparatus basically stands out because the outer surface of the pipeis in contact with the air or with the intermediation of flaps thatfacilitate dissipation of the heat generated during the electrolysis andtherefore cooling of the apparatus.

As described above, the core is disposed inside each pipe and mayconsist of one or more internal pipes, rods or strips that end in bothtanks by their extremities.

In order to maximise cooling, the apparatus may include an electric fanor similar that will facilitate heat extraction.

The apparatus thus configured therefore consists of an open system thatworks in continuous mode and has an optimal working temperature whichdoes not require lowering the intensity, as opposed to the case of thetwo currently known closed systems. The same working intensity to thatused in conventional systems leads to higher productions using thisapparatus.

The degree of cooling obtained as a consequence of this configurationdetermines that the size of the unit is smaller to that of other units,the configuration of which does not allow suitable cooling, therebyachieving a reduction in the space occupied.

In accordance with this apparatus structure, the number, size, shape andlocation of the pipes may be modified, in addition to the shape of thetanks in order to obtain different designs having the suitable volumefor the space where it will disposed, thereby allowing easyinstallation.

The apparatus functions in the following manner: water is continuouslyintroduced into the first tank; next, said water is directed through thepipes at the same time that the terminals are subjected to a current,whereupon the electrochemical reaction that gives rise to the formationof hydrogen gas and oxygen gas takes place. The gas is transportedtowards the second tank dissolved in the water, wherefrom it exits forthe subsequent use thereof as fuel. The heat generated during theelectrochemical reaction is dissipated in an optimal manner through thepipes in contact with the air.

The apparatus is thus constantly fed with water which exits in the formof gas, thereby preventing the water from stagnating, thereforefavouring the continuous production of gas.

The applications of this apparatus are multiple, highlighting its usefor feeding hydrogen batteries, for example, for combustion engines, . .. , without ruling out other uses in industry, housing and others.

The apparatus may be composed of stainless steel, aluminium, titanium ora combination of both, in carbon fibre, plastic or any other suitablematerial.

The gas-producing apparatus may be housed within a conventional facilitythat includes an independent main tank. In this case, the main tank isconnected to the entrance of the first tank of the apparatus to which itsupplies water by means of a sleeve, with the possible intermediation ofa pump that forces the water to circulate towards the apparatus. Anothersleeve connected to the exit of the second tank of the apparatus returnsthe gases produced therein to the main tank, where they are mixed withthe water to favour the removal of impurities produced duringelectrolysis, whereupon the clean gas finally exits the main tank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement this description and with the object of helpingto better understand the characteristics of the invention, a set ofdrawings, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodimentthereof, has been included as an integral part of said description,wherein the following has been represented in an illustrative andnon-limiting manner:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the electrolyticcombustible gas-producing apparatus having a single pipe withdissipating flaps.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the electrolyticcombustible gas-producing apparatus having several pipes wherein thecore included in each pipe is another pipe of smaller diameter.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the apparatushaving several pipes, wherein the core is formed of several strips.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Based on the figures, a series of possible embodiments of theelectrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatus that is the object ofthis invention is described below in detail.

In accordance with that represented in FIG. 1, the combustiblegas-producing apparatus comprises a first tank (1) wherethrough waterenters (9) and a second tank (2) wherethrough hydrogen gas (7) andoxygen gas (8) resulting from the electrolysis exits mixed withcirculating water (9), in addition to comprising a pipe (3) thatcommunicates both tanks (1, 2), slightly penetrating said tanks (1, 2)by its extremities, which is connected to a first electrical terminal(4), and having a core (5) disposed inside the outer pipe (3) which endsin both tanks (1, 2) by its extremities, consisting of a pipe (5) thatis connected to a second electrical terminal (6) of opposing polarity tothat of the first terminal (4).

As we can observe in this FIG. 1, the pipe (3) is in contact with theair with the intermediation of dissipating flaps (10) that facilitatethe dissipation of the heat generated during electrolysis.

In FIG. 2, we can observe a second embodiment with the same structure tothat represented in FIG. 1, wherein three independent pipes (3) are nowdisposed, without superficial continuity therebetween, wherein thecorresponding cores (5) consisting of pipes (5) are disposed, whereinthe pipes (5) are connected to the second terminal (6).

In FIG. 3, we can observe another embodiment wherein, as opposed to thatrepresented in FIG. 2, the core (5′) inside of the pipes (3) consists ofa group of strips (5′).

In any of the apparatus represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is envisagedthat the pipes (3) will be separated and with their outer surface indirect contact with the air, so as to maximise dissipation of the heatgenerated in the electrolysis and therefore cooling of the apparatus. InFIG. 1 we can observe that the direct contact with the air isestablished by means of the flaps (10) surrounding the outer surface ofthe pipe (3).

1-3. (canceled)
 4. An electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatus,characterised by comprising: a first tank wherethrough a continuous flowof water enters and a second tank wherethrough a continuous flow ofwater mixed with hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, resulting from theelectrolysis, exits, at least one pipe that communicates the first tankand the second tank, slightly penetrating said first and second tanks byits extremities, and which is connected to an electrical terminal, andat least one core disposed inside the pipe which ends in both the firstand second tanks by its extremities and which is connected to a secondelectrical terminal of opposing polarity to that of the first terminal,wherein an outer surface of the pipe is in direct contact with the airor through an intermediation of dissipating flaps to facilitatedissipation of heat generated during electrolysis.
 5. The electrolyticcombustible gas-producing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein aplurality of pipes are connected to the first tank and to the secondtank.
 6. The electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein the core comprises one or more pipes or rods orstrips.
 7. The electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the core comprises one or more pipes orrods or strips.
 8. The electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising a fan oriented towards the atleast one pipe.
 9. The electrolytic combustible gas-producing apparatusaccording to claim 5, further comprising a fan oriented towards theplurality of pipes.